High School Student Resume Examples & Guide

Crafting a resume as a high school student can feel daunting. With Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filtering applications and fierce competition for every role, standing out is crucial. This guide provides high school student resume examples for every experience level, equipping you with the tools to impress.

• Quantify Achievements: Use numbers to showcase the impact of your contributions, even in extracurricular activities.
• Highlight Relevant Skills: Emphasize skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, demonstrating your adaptability.
• Tailor to Job Description: Customize your resume for each application, matching your skills and experience to the specific requirements.
• Optimize for ATS: Use keywords from the job description to ensure your resume is easily scanned and understood by automated systems.
• Use Action Verbs: Start your bullet points with strong action verbs to highlight your accomplishments and responsibilities.
• Showcase Leadership: Highlight any leadership roles you’ve held, demonstrating your ability to take initiative and guide others.

Ready to see these tips in action? Let’s dive into some high school student resume examples.

Entry-Level High School Student Resume (0-2 Years Experience)

This example is perfect for high school students with limited formal work experience. It focuses on highlighting skills gained through extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and academic achievements.

Candidate Snapshot:

Name: Jane Doe

Education: High School Diploma

Top 3 Soft Skills: Communication, Teamwork, Problem-Solving

Why this works:

• Academic Focus: For a high school student, relevant coursework (like computer science or business classes) helps prove theoretical knowledge despite a lack of extensive work experience.
• Transferable Soft Skills: ‘Communication’ is vital for a high school student, as they often interact with teachers, classmates, and potentially customers in part-time jobs.
• Keyword Integration: The resume includes specific entry-level keywords for high school student roles, such as ‘customer service’, ‘teamwork’, and ‘time management’, to pass ATS scans.

Mid-Level High School Student Resume (3-7 Years Experience)

This resume targets high school students with some work experience, such as part-time jobs or internships. It emphasizes quantifiable achievements and industry-specific skills.

Candidate Snapshot:

Name: John Smith

Key Achievement: Increased customer satisfaction scores by 15% at a retail job.

Core Hard Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, Social Media Management, Basic Accounting

Why this works:

• Industry-Specific Metrics: Specific metrics like ‘customer satisfaction scores’ are the gold standard for a high school student working in retail, demonstrating their impact on business outcomes.
• Tool Proficiency: Listing specific software like ‘Microsoft Office Suite’ proves the candidate is ‘plug-and-play’ ready for administrative or data entry tasks.
• Problem-Solution Format: The bullet points demonstrate the ability to solve common problems, like ‘improving customer satisfaction’ or ‘streamlining inventory management’.

Senior High School Student Resume (8+ Years / Management)

This example caters to high school students who may have significant experience through family businesses or leadership roles in organizations. It focuses on strategic leadership and quantifiable results.

Candidate Snapshot:

Name: Emily Brown

Teams Managed: 5+ Volunteers

Budget Size: $1,000+ Fundraising Goal

Certifications: Volunteer Management Certification

Why this works:

• Strategic Leadership: The summary shifts focus from ‘doing tasks’ to ‘leading strategy’, which is required for senior leadership roles, even within volunteer organizations.
• Scale & Scope: Explicitly stating ‘Budget Size’ and ‘Team Count’ proves the candidate can handle the high-stakes environment of senior-level responsibilities.
• Elite Certifications: Listing advanced credentials like a ‘Volunteer Management Certification’ acts as a trust signal for executive-level hiring managers, demonstrating commitment to professional development.

How to Write a High School Student Resume

The Resume Summary

The resume summary is your first impression. It should highlight your key skills and experience in a concise and compelling manner. Use this formula:

[Adjective] + [Your Title/Area of Focus] + with [Number] + years of experience in [Relevant Industry/Field] + specializing in [Your Top Skills]. Seeking to leverage my skills to contribute to [Company Name].

Entry-Level Example: Dedicated high school student with strong communication skills seeking an entry-level position to utilize my abilities in a team environment.

Mid-Level Example: Results-oriented high school student with 3+ years of experience in customer service, specializing in problem-solving and conflict resolution. Seeking to leverage my skills to contribute to a positive customer experience at ABC Company.

Senior-Level Example: Highly motivated high school student with a proven track record of leading successful volunteer initiatives, specializing in team management and fundraising. Seeking to leverage my skills to contribute to organizational growth at XYZ Non-Profit.

Work Experience & Action Verbs

Focus on achievements rather than just listing duties. Highlight the impact you made in each role. Use strong action verbs to start each bullet point.

Here are some examples of transforming duties into achievements:

• Before: Responsible for answering phones. After: Managed incoming calls, providing excellent customer service and resolving inquiries efficiently.
• Before: Assisted with inventory management. After: Streamlined inventory processes, reducing stockouts by 10%.
• Before: Helped with customer service. After: Provided exceptional customer service, resulting in a 15% increase in positive customer feedback.
• Before: Organized events. After: Organized and executed successful fundraising events, raising over $500 for the organization.
• Before: Participated in team projects. After: Collaborated with team members to successfully complete projects, achieving project goals within budget and on time.

Top Skills for High School Students

Highlight both hard and soft skills to showcase your versatility.

Hard Skills

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Social Media Management
• Basic Accounting
• Data Entry
• Typing

Soft Skills

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Problem-Solving
• Time Management
• Customer Service

Tools/Software

• Google Workspace
• Zoom
• Slack
• Microsoft Teams
• Social Media Platforms (e.g., Instagram, TikTok)

Education & Certifications

List your education, including your high school name, expected graduation date, and GPA. For more experienced students, include relevant certifications.

Consider these certifications:

• Volunteer Management Certification
• Customer Service Certification
• Microsoft Office Specialist Certification

10 Common High School Student Resume Mistakes

1. Generic Objective Statements: Starting with a vague objective like ‘Seeking a challenging position’ wastes valuable space. Instead, use a strong summary showcasing your key skills and experience tailored to the specific role. This immediately captures the recruiter’s attention and demonstrates your understanding of the job requirements.
2. Listing Irrelevant Experience: Including jobs or activities that have no connection to the target role dilutes your resume. Focus on experiences that demonstrate relevant skills, such as teamwork, communication, or problem-solving. If you lack direct experience, highlight transferable skills gained through extracurricular activities or volunteer work.
3. Neglecting to Quantify Achievements: Failing to quantify your accomplishments makes it difficult for recruiters to assess your impact. Use numbers and metrics to showcase your successes, such as ‘Increased customer satisfaction by 15%’ or ‘Raised $500 for the organization’. This provides concrete evidence of your abilities and demonstrates your value to potential employers.
4. Using Passive Language: Starting bullet points with weak phrases like ‘Responsible for’ or ‘Assisted with’ lacks impact. Use strong action verbs to highlight your accomplishments and demonstrate your initiative. For example, instead of ‘Responsible for answering phones’, use ‘Managed incoming calls, providing excellent customer service’.
5. Poor Formatting and Design: A cluttered or poorly formatted resume can be difficult to read and may deter recruiters. Use a clean and professional design with clear headings and bullet points. Ensure your resume is easy to scan and highlights your key skills and experience.
6. Grammatical Errors and Typos: Grammatical errors and typos create a negative impression and suggest a lack of attention to detail. Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it, and consider asking a friend or family member to review it as well. Use grammar and spell-checking tools to catch any errors.
7. Ignoring Keywords: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for specific keywords related to the job description. Failing to include these keywords can result in your resume being automatically rejected. Review the job description carefully and incorporate relevant keywords throughout your resume.
8. Listing References Directly: Including references directly on your resume takes up valuable space. Instead, simply state ‘References available upon request’. Provide your references separately when requested by the employer.
9. Exaggerating Skills or Experience: Misrepresenting your skills or experience can damage your credibility and may lead to termination if discovered after hiring. Be honest and accurate in your resume, and focus on highlighting your genuine strengths and accomplishments.
10. Submitting a Generic Resume: Sending the same resume for every job application demonstrates a lack of effort and may not effectively highlight your relevant skills and experience. Tailor your resume to each specific job description, emphasizing the skills and qualifications that are most relevant to the role.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I include in my resume if I have no work experience? Focus on highlighting your skills gained through extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and academic achievements.
2. How long should my resume be? As a high school student, your resume should ideally be one page.
3. What font should I use for my resume? Use a professional and easy-to-read font, such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri.
4. Should I include a photo on my resume? In most cases, it is not necessary to include a photo on your resume.
5. What is a good GPA to include on my resume? If your GPA is above 3.0, it is generally a good idea to include it on your resume.
6. What if I don’t have any relevant coursework? Focus on highlighting your skills and experience gained through other activities.
7. How do I tailor my resume to a specific job? Review the job description carefully and identify the key skills and qualifications that are required. Then, emphasize those skills and qualifications in your resume.
8. What is an ATS? An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a software used by many companies to screen resumes.
9. How do I optimize my resume for ATS? Use keywords from the job description, use a simple and clean format, and avoid using tables or images.
10. Should I include my social media profiles on my resume? Only include social media profiles that are relevant to the job, such as LinkedIn or a professional portfolio.

Crafting a compelling high school student resume takes effort, but by following these guidelines and examples, you can create a document that showcases your unique skills and experience. Remember to tailor your resume for each application and highlight your achievements with quantifiable results.

Ready to take the next step? Search more High School Student resources on our site to find even more tips and templates to help you land your dream job!